Happy birthday to me!

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Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to show you the amazing birthday cake I made for myself! This recipe is one of the many incredible recipes located on Dr. Fuhrman's website (you have to be a member but it is TOTALLY worth it). The cake is called Banana Flag Cake and it was sooooooooooooo yummy! It is a 4th of July celebration cake--and my birthday is 5th of July so it was just perfect. It is topped with a nut based creamy frosting sweetened with dates, and tons of fruit. Fabulous and A+!!

Jana

Hi Everyone,
Sorry for deserting all of you! My number one goal by doing this blog was to complete Dr. Furhman's Eat for Health (which I did). The recipes in that book just rocked! We absolutely loved them and have been repeating so many of them for our daily meals. Dr. Fuhrman is currently updating his book Eat to Live--adding new testimonials and stuff. I don't know if there will be new recipes, but if that is the case--I will blog them for you I PROMISE!! Not sure what the release date is on that book. So check back periodically!! Thanks so much for reading!!

Hello my friends! Just a quick note to tell you that life is grand and I have been doing some other things lately--like working hard on my artwork. I will slowly make my way through Eat to Live and post another recipe soon. I have been cooking lots of meals from Eat for Health--I barely remember what I used to eat before I learned all of those great recipes!! When I eat out my goals are 100% whole foods, no sugar, no or low salt, no white flour--and I stick to that. If I slip up and eat sugar, it is generally 4-5 boxes of cookies later before I can get myself back on track! So I make damn sure that I eat Dr. Fuhrman desserts every day. The fruit ice creams, oat bars, cupcakes--and even just some luscious fruit! Hooray for tangerine season!! This totally helps me to stay on track.

Last Sunday I did the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Stair Climb to the top of the tallest building in downtown Denver!! I participated in the fund raising event with my boot camp group (Bonza Bodies) There were over 2,000 people in the race--56 floors and 1,098 steps to the top! One breath and one stair at a time, we took steps to raise money to help prevent lung disease and promote lung health. I had a blast!! My goal was to finish in under 30 minutes, and it took me only 14 minutes. I was so proud! I bet there is one in your city--so check it out! It's a great cause!! My father-in-law lost one lung to cancer, and I am ashamed to admit that I smoked cigarettes for about 15 years--(I quit over 6 years ago) so I was very proud to make it to the top. http://www.lungusa.org/donate/events/fight-for-air-climb/ BONZA!!

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Eat to Live/ Day 7

Yesterday for lunch I made the Broccoli and Red Pepper Soup from Eat to Live and neither of us liked this one at all. d:O( d On the bright side it was very easy to make--but just not enough going on. It had a strange flavor--I think we did not like the vinegar. I'm not even sure what you could add to cheer it up a bit! I may try it again because it was very easy to make and very healthy! Just didn't like the flavors. But here is the pic and I know we will have better luck tomorrow!!


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Eat to Live/ Day 6

Hello,

I am back! Took some time off from cooking, and we are ready for some good ETL food again! Dr. Fuhrman's article called Are You a Food Addict? really affected me. (here is the link again if you did not read it) http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/hurtful-food-are-you-a-food-addict.html In his book Eat to Live, Dr. Furhman talks about following his food plan for the most part (90%) but then if you want have a small "cheat" (10%) then get right back on the plan. This might be one small cookie, or maybe some pasta. I think for some people this is a good idea. But for me, it is not. I don't seem to stop with one cookie! Maybe one box of cookies!! Sugar and it's cohorts profoundly affect me (white flour, white rice, alcohol). I am even discovering that salt has a negative affect on me as well. I do not drink alcohol (and have not for many years), and now I think I finally see that processed sugar has no place in my life as well. I have found so many wonderful dessert recipes from this whole food adventure, and I just need to keep on making them and eating them. It is a little difficult in our world because they put sugar and white flour in everything. So I will be vigilant!! Last night for dessert I made Poached Pears with Raspberry Sauce from the book Eat for Health. They were sooooooooooo good and so pretty too! And they could not be easier to make. Here is the latest recipe that I made from Eat to Live:

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Grandma Tillie's Eggplant Dip

This was really yummy! It was warm and creamy--I could have almost eaten it as a soup! I served it with cut up veggies, but I think it would be better served on top of some steamed spinach or other greens. We gave it a B+

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Eat to Live/ Day 5

So, Haze and I ate out quite a bit over the weekend. We mostly stayed on track for breakfast and lunch, but come dinner we were like King Henry the VIII at the restaurants. More butter! More sauce! We just don't quite get the concept yet of eating out and staying true to the food plan. We both pretty much felt crappy and both of our eyes were all swollen and puffy from the salt and excess food. Did anyone read Dr. Fuhrman's Disease Proof post yesterday called, Are You a Food Addict? (here is the link: http://www.diseaseproof.com/ ) Well I read that, and yes--I love all of those things! Canteloupe, mango, greens, kale, salad. I truly do! I crave my Eat Your Greens Smoothie every morning and have been adding kale to it. But I also love junk food too. And I don't know where I stand. Yesterday, all I wanted was the Smoothie for breakfast and lunch, and then a HUGE salad for dinner (plus the spinach dish that I made). It felt really good and it tasted really good after falling off the wagon over the weekend. This blog has been so good for me because I am teaching myself how to get back up after I fall down, as I teach myself how to cook great tasting healthy food. Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey!! Here is what I made yesterday:

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Spinach and Mushroom Sauce

I served this dish with a giant salad and it just could not have been better. It was warm and creamy and I just almost wolfed it down! It kind of reminded me of a warm comfort food like mac and cheese! It was soooo good and sooooo simple. I ate a big bowl of it and will definitely be making this again. I gave it an A.

Eat to Live/ Day 4

Hi Everyone!

First of all--someone asked for the recipe for Jana Banana Chocolate/ Peppermint Ice Cream, so here it is!

Ingredients:

2 large Bananas

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 cup Soy Milk (or more)

2 medium Dates, chopped

1 T Cacao or Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Peppermint Extract (a few drops to taste)

Instructions:

Cut up bananas into small one-inch pieces, place in a baggie and freeze for 24 hours. To high-powered blender, add soy milk, vanilla, cocoa powder, dates, peppermint extract, and blend. Drop frozen banana pieces in slowly. You may need to add more soy milk to get the right consistency.

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So last night I made Cara's Apple Cake from Eat to Live--and it was pretty good. I was hoping it would be a little better!! I think it is one of those recipes that I know it's good for me, and it satisfies a sweet tooth--but I'm not bananas over it. I topped it with some icing (I used the recipe from Healthy Chocolate Cake from Eat for Health--I added cinnamon instead of the cocoa) and icing helped!! It is very appley--and I think I wanted more of a "cake." But it will definitely get eaten!! We gave it a B+ The pics show the cake with and without the icing.

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Pics are:Cara's Apple CakeCara's Apple Cake with Icing